Portable and waterproof friction-match safe



P. MERRILL.

Match Safe.

Patented Oct. 12, 1858.

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N. PETERS. Prwlvumugmpmr. washingmn, D. c.

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

PLAT-T MERRILL, OF PORT SANILAC, MICHIGAN.

PORTABLE AND WATERPROOF FRICTION-MATCH SAFE.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 21,770, dated October 12, 1858.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PLATT BIERRILL, of Port Sanilac, in the county of Sanilac and State of Michigan, have invented a. new and Improved Portable and Waterproof Friction-Match Safe; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is an internal view of my invention. Fig. 2, is a section of ditto taken in the line Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a section of ditto, taken in the line y, y, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction indicated by arrow l.

Similar'letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists in having a portable box or case, similar to a portemonnaie case, provided internally with certain mechanism, so arranged, that when the box or case is supplied with matches disposed within it in a certain way, a match may, by actuating a lever, be shoved from the box or case in an ignited state ready for use, without exposing the matches within the box either to dampness or the danger of casual ignition.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents a tlat case or box which is, or may be similar to an ordinary rectangular portemonnaie case, as shown clearly in Figs. l and 3, the case being provided with a lid or cover a, connected to it by a hinge or joint b. Within the case or box A, and to its back side a bent lever B, is pivoted, as shown at c, and to the lever B, a slide C, is attached by pins CZ, d, having washers e, at their ends, the pins passing through oblong slots in the slide thereby allowing a certain longitudinal play of the same. To the lever B, near one end a spring f, is attached, said spring bearing against one end of the slide C, the opposite end of the slide having a lip or projection g, extending from it at right angles.

At one end of the case A, and opposite the lip or projection g, a ledge or cleat 71 is formed, said ledge projecting inward and forming a passage for the projection g, during its backward movement, as will be hereinafter more particularly referred to. The pivot or fulcrum c, of the lever B, has an arm D, attached to it, said arm being between the back of the case and its covering z', and having a thumb piece j, attached, which thumb piece projects through a curved slot in the covering see Fig 2. The case A, it will be understood, is of sheet metal and the covering may be of wood or any suitable material. In the edge Z, of the case A, an opening m, is made, and E, is a bent arm one end of which is pivoted to the case as shown at n, and the opposite end extends down over the opening m, when the case is entirely closed. A spring o, is attached to the arm E, said spring having a tendency to keep the arm thrown out from the case A. To the inner side of the part or the arm E, that extends over the opening m, an elastic corrugated strip p, is attached. The upper part of which as shown at g, forms a catch to hold the arm E, down to the case, see Fig. 1 F, is a metal plate which is fitted in the case A, and has a ledge or guide 1', formed at each side ofit. G, is a zigzag spring which is litted between the guides r. Between the edge of the plate F, and the ledge or cleat h, a space L is allowed, the object of which will be presently shown. H, are matches of the usual form, the ends of which are fitted between the guides r, r, of plate F, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lid a, of the case A, is secured in a closed state by a catch ax.

The operation is as follows: When the lever B, is pushed back to its fullest extent in the direction indicated by arrow 2, the spring f, will bring the projection g, of the slide C, down behind the back edge of the cleat h, and behind a match H, which passes through the recess` 7L. By shoving the lever B, in the opposite direction as indicated by arrow 8, the project-ion g, forces the dipped end of the match against the corrugated strip p, which by being thus acted upon releases the arm E, from the case and the spring o, throws out the arm E, the corrugated strip igniting the match which projects out from the case, as shown in Fig. 3, and by dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the lever B, is shoved forward to its fullest extent in the direction indicated by arrow 8, the spring f, throws the projection g, up into the space behind the ledge h, so

that the springnG, Will be allowed to force up a succeeding match H, that it `may passY through the space h, and be ready to be acted upon by the succeeding movementof bar B.

By this invention the matches are kept perfectly safe7 they cannot be casually ignited and the lid or cover a, may be provided With packing t, to keep the case Water tight. The device may be carried in the pocket for lighting cigars, or used as a household article, it being a desirable article in all cases Where friction matches are used.

Having thus described. my invention What purpose set forth.

PLATT MERRILL.

Witnesses:

EDWARDy ERSKINE, JAMES ERSKIJNE. 

